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Critical Digital and Social Media Studies - 2018 call for book proposal submissions

Announcement published by Andrew Lockett on Monday, January 15, 2018

Type:

Call for Publications

Date:

January 8, 2018 to February 12, 2018

Subject Fields:

Communication, Cultural History / Studies, Political History / Studies, Popular Culture Studies, Sociology

Critical Digital and Social Media Studies is an established book series edited by Prof Christian Fuchs on behalf of the Westminster Institute for Advanced Studies and published by the University of Westminster Press (UWP). We invite submissions of book proposals that fall into the scope of the series.

CALL DETAILS After the publication of the first titles in the series we invite submission of book proposals (adhering to the guidelines set out below) as one document with one full chapter for books in the range of 35,000-80,000 words. The books in the series are published online in an open access format available online without payment using a Creative Commons licence (CC-BY-NC-ND) and simultaneously as affordable paperbacks. We are able to publish a number of books in the call without any book processing charges thanks to generous support by the University of Westminster that covers these fees. Potential authors are welcome to contact the series editor outside of the initial time frame of this call for book proposals but should note that priority for funding support for suitable projects will be given to those proposals meeting the deadline. There is a preference for the submission of proposals for books whose writing can be finished and that can be submitted to UWP within the next 6-15 months. In the event of a surplus of strong proposals preference will be given to single-authored book proposals over edited volumes.

Outside these time frames authors are welcome to submit to the publisher (a.lockett@westminster.ac.uk), but will be notified if funding has already been allocated and the prospective date for the next call for publication. Authors who have access to open access fee-funding (e.g. covered by research project funding, universities or other institutions) that can cover the fees for layout and production are welcome to contact the publisher outside of the submission dates, but should note selection is based only on grounds of quality and suitability for the series notwithstanding that the series wishes to welcome as many suitable titles as possible. We welcome submissions of a book outline proposal with (exactly one) sample chapter submitted as one single Word or PDF document. We can only accept suggestions for books written in English. For further details see the Proposal Guidelines below or if you have questions about the publishing process email a.lockett@westminster.ac.uk.

CRITICAL DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA STUDIES: AIMS AND SCOPEThe book series “Critical Digital and Social Media Studies” publishes books that critically study the role of the Internet, digital and social media in society and make critical interventions. Its publications analyse how power structures, digital capitalism, ideology, domination, social struggles shape and are shaped by digital and social media. They use and develop critical theories, are profoundly theoretical, and discuss the political relevance and implications of the studied topics. The book series understands itself as a critical theory forum for Internet and social media research that makes critical interventions into contemporary political topics in the context of digital and social media. It is also interested in publishing works that based on critical theory foundations develop and apply critical social media research methods that challenge digital positivism. It furthermore is interested in digital media ethics that are grounded in critical social theories and critical philosophy. The book series’ understanding of critical theory and critique is grounded in approaches such as critical political economy and Frankfurt School critical theory.

TOPICSExample topics that the book series is interested in include: the political economy of digital and social media; digital and informational capitalism; digital labour; ideology critique in the age of social media; new developments of critical theory in the age of digital and social media; critical studies of advertising and consumer culture online; critical social media research methods; critical digital and social media ethics; working class struggles in the age of social media; the relationship of class, gender and race in the context of digital and social media; the critical analysis of the implications of big data, cloud computing, digital positivism, the Internet of things, predictive online analytics, the sharing economy, location- based data and mobile media, etc.; the role of classical critical theories for studying digital and social media; alternative social media and Internet platforms; the public sphere in the age of digital media; the critical study of the Internet economy; critical perspectives on digital democracy; critical case studies of online prosumption; public service digital and social media; commons-based digital and social media; subjectivity, consciousness, affects, worldviews and moral values in the age of digital and social media; digital art and culture in the context of critical theory; environmental and ecological aspects of digital capitalism and digital consumer culture.

PROPOSAL GUIDELINESFor books to be considered for the series please follow the guidelines below including the following:

UWP proposals to be presented under headings rather than as a questionnaire the following being suggested as a framework.• 1. Case for the book, its scope (short 150 word summary):Name of book and a description in 150-200 words; why a book is needed in the area and what is distinctive and unique about the book in terms of intellectual contribution and subject matter.• 2. Author details and biography:Details of author or principal editor/editor’s contact details and one paragraph detailing institutional affiliations, relevant previous publications and relevant history of research underlying the book• 3. Context for the book (relation to the wider academic field/s) and relation to CDSMS series aims.• 4. Summary of the book's aims (longer summary):A longer summary of the book's distinctive intellectual contribution both in terms of the wider intellectual field but also in terms of the author's own publications history• 5. Chapter plan:A chapter plan with a paragraph of content about the coverage of each chapter and brief details of bibliography, appendices and other apparatus proposed.• 6. Readership and how to reach it:Core readership and subject areas the book would appeal to and cover, and any tertiary audiences either in terms of general interest or other academic fields; How should the readership for the book in your opinion be best identified and reached? What factors do you think are most relevant in terms of ensuring the book is successfully published and makes an impact? Are there other things you think it important to stress about the readership for the book and how they might be reached?• 7. Competing and related books:An account of competing titles and books closest resembling that in your proposal; what is the books unique intellectual contribution;• 8. Delivery date, length and any other publishing specifics:If a single or dual authored book, the length of the book, the proposed delivery date, any presentation or production preferences or typesetting or production requirements for the book including use of illustration, data, specialist typography or colour printing.• 9. Sample Chapter (attach exactly one sample chapter).

Series proposals are peer-reviewed in accordance with standard university press practice via the series editor, editorial board members and additional external referees where appropriate.

PUBLISHED IN THE SERIES (2016 and 2017)

CRITICAL THEORY OF COMMUNICATION: LUKÁCS, ADORNO, MARCUSE, HONNETH AND HABERMAS IN THE AGE OF THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIAProf Christian Fuchs, Westminster Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Westminster

KNOWLEDGE IN THE AGE OF DIGITAL CAPITALISM: AN INTRODUCTION TO COGNITIVE MATERIALISMMariano Zukerfeld (CONICET), Argentina.